WASHINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua)-- Tayshaun Prince scored
20 points and Detroit's defense came up big Sunday as the Detroit Pistons
advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 79-61 victory over the
Cleveland Cavaliers in the deciding Game 7 of their semifinal series at the
Palace of Auburn Hills, MI.
The Pistons will now play the well-rested Miami Heat
for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Both begin
their first game on Tuesday at Auburn Hills,
Detroit established defensive pressure and intensity
from the game's outset, while Cleveland shot 30.8 percent by the final buzzer.
Richard Hamilton donated 15 points, Chauncey Billups
tallied 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Rasheed Wallace recorded 13
points and eight boards. Detroit out rebounded Cleveland, 48-36, and pulled down
13 offensive boards, four more than their opponent's.
LeBron James scored 21 first-half points for
Cleveland, but was held to six points in the face of constant double teams in
the final 24 minutes.
The 21-year-old star received little support from his
teammates, as guard Larry Hughes was the only other player in double figures
with 10 points. Enditem
